Utilitarianism

Question 1

What type of theory is Utilitarianism?

Answer 1

Teleological
Consequentialist
Relative
Naturalist

Question 2

What are the five types of Utilitarianism?

Answer 2

Act Utilitarianism
Rule Utilitarianism
Two Rule Utilitarianism
Preference Utilitarianism
Ideal Utilitarianism

Question 3

What is Act Utilitarianism?

Answer 3

Act Utilitarianism: each act has to be considered individually
Developed by Jeremy Bentham:
• Who was unhappy with the law as he felt it was more about making money than helping those in need.
• Bentham made the empirical observation that people desired pleasure and wanted to avoid pain.
• We need to look at things we might do and the various outcomes in order to calculate how much pleasure and pain they might create, choosing the one that maximises pleasure an reduces pain. His approach is quantitative.
Developed the Hedonic Calculus - in order for seven different factors to be considered before an act is committed.

Question 4

What is Rule Utilitarianism?

Answer 4

Rule Utilitarianism - believes that happiness is best achieved when it is subjected to rules that protect the common good.
Developed by John Stuart Mill.
Raised the problem that Act Utilitarianism was too quantitative. He wanted to reformulate the Utilitarian theory to reflect that all acts are not of equal value. He wanted to take human nature into account.
Mill introduced the principle of Utility to the common person, replacing pleasure with happiness.
Expressed that happiness is more spiritual and cultural than physical and distinguished higher and lower pleasures. Happiness in the mind are higher regards while pleasures of the body are held in low regard.

Question 5

What are the weaknesses of Act Utilitarianism?

Answer 5

• Williams - Supererogation argument - ethical theories are suppose to help make our lives easier and better to live! However, act utilitarianism would make us donate all our money to charity, as it would bring about the greatest pleasure for the greatest amount. It demands too much!
• Alasdair McIntyre - Social engineering argument, the very idea of pleasure is dangerous as people can be manipulated into believing anything is pleasurable. Their lives being filled with pleasure does not always ensure that they are living pure, ethical lives.
• Bernard Williams - stated that Utilitarianism ‘Brutalises the moral currency’ and it is impossible to take the moral high ground while using this theory.
• Defines good as in which is pleasurable. However, this pleasure is subjective.
• This theory just claims that the Principle of Utility is just morally right.

Question 6

What are the strengths of Act Utilitarianism?

Answer 6

• Utilitarianism is a useful theory in todays society! We do look at the needs of the future, and these are what shape the democracy.
• the theory is subjective and relative and therefore is flexible to fit the needs of the community.
• the theory looks at consequences, since people naturally look at the outcomes of actions anyway, it is easily accessable.
• as it is based on the majority, it allows people to reflect on their society and do good to one another.
• fits in with a democracy.